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The novel is successful because the elements that make up the narrative support its themes.
These elements consists of the point of view ( or voice ) and language, the tone, the time and place of setting, characters, the plot structure and imagery and symbols.
Let's deal with the two first elements which are the point of view and the tone:
1/ The author has adopted a first person point of view.
Annie's mature voice narrates vivid, poetic descriptions of key episodes in her early life, with little dialogue or background explanation of time or place.
The story is told from her point of view, describing events and feelings as she perrceived them at the time.
The reader is immediately situated within the consciousness of the young girl, but the language is complex, eloquent and evocative one of the adult writer.
2/ The second element of the novel's structure, closely related to voice, is tone, which can range from comic to serious.
The tone of this novel, in keeping with the child's point of view, is simple yet also very evocative and vivid.
It is honest and direct but also quite suggestive.
The novel seems to hint psychological depths and mysteries that cannot be articulated, that circle around the descriptions of events and thoughts. The effect is somewhat dreamlik, as though actions are being filtered through her consciousness long after the events took place.
These elements consists of the point of view ( or voice ) and language, the tone, the time and place of setting, characters, the plot structure and imagery and symbols.
Let's deal with the two first elements which are the point of view and the tone:
1/ The author has adopted a first person point of view.
Annie's mature voice narrates vivid, poetic descriptions of key episodes in her early life, with little dialogue or background explanation of time or place.
The story is told from her point of view, describing events and feelings as she perrceived them at the time.
The reader is immediately situated within the consciousness of the young girl, but the language is complex, eloquent and evocative one of the adult writer.
2/ The second element of the novel's structure, closely related to voice, is tone, which can range from comic to serious.
The tone of this novel, in keeping with the child's point of view, is simple yet also very evocative and vivid.
It is honest and direct but also quite suggestive.
The novel seems to hint psychological depths and mysteries that cannot be articulated, that circle around the descriptions of events and thoughts. The effect is somewhat dreamlik, as though actions are being filtered through her consciousness long after the events took place.
Last edited by on Wed Feb 14, 2007 3:49 pm; edited 1 time in total